"I road-tested a $25 skincare regime on my face for a week and here's how it stacks up."

Hands up who’s ever spent a bit more than you could afford on a moisturiser? Or a serum that promised you’d leave the house looking like a baby, or a night cream that allows you to travel back in time?

We’ve all been there, because when it comes down to it, everyone wants lovely skin.

Sure, skincare is an investment, but your whole routine doesn’t have to be. Speaking of affordable, luxury skincare… haaaaaave you met Voeu?

You’ve probably seen Voeu skincare’s purple packaging on the shelf next to your other favourite skincare brands, but wondered if a product with such a low price tag could stack up against its exxier counterparts.

I love a challenge – and things that don’t cost much money – so I set about road testing $25 worth of Voeu products on my willing face this week to find out.

Edwina Bartholomew Does Her Own TV Makeup On Tour

You Beauty

ADVERTISEMENT

I wiped one of these guys all over my face (they're gentle enough to use on eyes and lips, too) everyday as soon as I got home from work. OK, so I might've sat staring at the ceiling on the couch for a few minutes first. And kicked my shoes off. But then I removed all my makeup and went in with my regular cream cleanser for a deep cleanse.

Oh, and I mentioned they're $1.50, yeah? That's two $1 coins with change, or three 50-cent pieces - they're cheap as chips.

The Exfoliating Scrub is a once-a-week kind of skincare product for me, which means it gets to hang out with its other 'occasional use' friends like sheet masks and my razors.

ADVERTISEMENT

Physical scrubs unintentionally got themselves a bad reputation in the '90s and early 2000s when chemical exfoliation came along and told us to stop rubbing cut-up bits of things on our faces.

Personally, I think there's a place for both a chemical and physical exfoliant in your life. Which ones and how often you use them comes down to your skin type. I have sensitive skin that really enjoys getting red and blotchy, so I will always choose gentler products over hardcore ones.

This scrub earns bonus points for containing Microcystalline Cellulose (clears the clogged up stuff away), natural Jojoba Oil to help soothe irritated skin and natural walnut shell to exfoliate dead skin and clean any impurities. Oh, and did I mention that it doesn't contain any microbeads? That's a win-win for my skin and the environment.

The product feels grainy on the skin, but not in an aggressive way, and leaves the skin feeling smooth and nourished. I used on the Wednesday night to help prep my skin for the weekend.

I love the metallic purple lid on the Voeu Age Regenerate Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream. Image: Supplied.

This is where things get a bit hectic, because this moisturiser is punching way above its weight for its $7 price point.

I massaged a 10-cent piece-sized blob of the Age Regenerate Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream into my skin after cleansing and applying my regular serum every morning for a week. It's thick, but not greasy, and my skin felt hydrated throughout the day.

Although anti-ageing isn't my biggest skin concern right now, dryness is, and the fact my face didn't suck this moisturiser dry within the first few minutes is an achievement.

This is because of everyone's best skincare friend, Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid can hold more than 1000 times its weight in water, meaning the Age Regenerate Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream is like a big 'ole drink of water for your skin.

ADVERTISEMENT

Think plump and hydrated, two words we all want our skin to described as, yeah?

You can definitely tell the difference between Voeu's Day Cream and Night Cream. Image: Supplied. Voeu Age Regenerate Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream (left) and Night Cream (on the right). Image: Supplied.

I've never really used a night cream, but the best way I can describe this one is it's the day cream, with the added comfort of a warm hug from your mum.

When you open the lid, you'll notice the Age Regenerate Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream has a thicker texture. That's because as well as Hyaluronic Acid and Japanese Cedar Extract (i.e. your anti-ageing superheroes), the night cream has the added hydration of Grape Seed Oil, Vitamin E and Shea Butter Extract.

ADVERTISEMENT

For skin like mine, it's the perfect cream to sub into your regular routine in winter. My mum, however, would wear it every night for an extra boost.

Apply this one at the very end of your evening skincare routine to lock in all the good stuff in your serums and face oils, or after the Voeu Age Regenerate Eye Cream (also $7) if lines around your eye area bother you.

From my balcony, no one could tell I was wearing a sheet mask. Win. Image: Supplied.

I decided to end my week with some #selfcare and popped Voeu's Hydrating Tissue Mask on the revive my hungover weary skin.

It's basically a big, wet sheet of tissue paper that sits on your face for 15 minutes, and it's delightful.

Three things I loved about this sheet mask in particular:

It comes in one large piece so it actually fit the size of my face and didn't slip off.

The tissue is a beige, flesh tone colour, meaning I didn't scare my neighbours sitting in the sun on my balcony looking like a serial killer.

There was SO MUCH SERUM in the tissue and packaging, because no-one likes a dry sheet mask.

It's also worth mentioning this sheet mask is packed full of Witch Hazel (anti-inflammatory to reduce redness) and Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

So look. That's $23.50 for that entire skincare routine (or $30.50 including the eye cream). It's not every day you find such luxe skincare active ingredients on the supermarket shelf - so this is a bargain.

If you're just starting to dabble in the anti-ageing skincare world but can't justify spending your left arm on moisturiser, or are looking to sub out one of your exxier products for an affordable alternative, Voeu is a great entry-point skincare range to try.

It doesn't hurt you can grab some chocolate at the supermarket on your way out too.

Voeu [voo] - noun; wish (French).
For those in the know, Voeu is one of life’s little luxuries.
Tried and loved by thousands of women across Australia, Voeu skincare includes a range of Anti-Aging Day and Night Creams, Eye Cream and Serum, along with a range of skin care must haves like Micellar Water, Facial Gel Wash, Facial Wipes, Facial Masks and Body Lotions.
Stock up on Voeu skincare on your next Woolies trip and get your skin ready for summer.Discover at Woolworths.